Georgia on my Mind. You see the lyrics posted as soon as you enter the state. I moved to Georgia three years ago, and outside of my home state Montana, it is the only place that has felt like home.
Tomorrow I move to Nicaragua, and instead of packing, I sit here reminiscing of all that has happened here since 2013. It feels like an entire lifetime. In a way, I feel like I grew up in Georgia. Not in the sense that I have lived my whole life here, but that I learned some of the most important lessons here, and I am a better person because of it. Georgia will always have a piece of my heart and I will always be grateful for the people that make it feel like home.
So here are a few things I learned in Georgia:
- How to play corn hole and crave Chic fil a on Sundays :: Any true Southerner will know what I am talking about. Every Sunday I want a spicy chicken sandwich, and by Monday I have forgotten all about it.
- I love having a big family :: Since most of the Adventures In Missions community has moved here from elsewhere, we have become a family to one another. A big, loud, obnoxious family and I love it! Where else can you get so many people to go to a movie together, that the cinema has to open an entirely new theater just so you can all fit?
3. Don’t quit when it’s hard :: There have been times I have wanted to quit, but I luckily had a few wise people in my life who wouldn’t let me. It is so much better to leave for something more than to leave because something was hard.
4. Everything tastes better deep fried :: Southern cooking… I can’t stop.
5. I am already equipped to do anything I am asked to do :: There are some days I felt over my head and completely insufficient to do the things that were asked of my. I have found that God rarely asks us to do things we are already capable of. It is a constant reminder that He is with us and will give us everything we need.
6. To cheer for the Braves…but not the Falcons :: I grew up always watching sports. Minnesota sports. But I have come to appreciate the teams of Georgia. The Braves are just as bad as the Twins these days…so why not? The tomahawk chop isn’t so bad. But football is another story. After the ‘98 playoffs, I will never forgive the Falcons.
7. How to exit off a 6 lane freeway :: This took me months to learn this, being from a town with two stoplights. It still scares me to death, but I can do it!
8. ATL has the best airport in the world :: The more I travel, the more I am convinced of this.
9. Y’all’d’ve is a word :: Why use 4 syllables when you can use 2?
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The South is beautiful :: I confess I take great pride in the beauty of Montana. But the South has really grown on me. I love watching the sunsets over the Appalachians, the beauty of the lake, and the colors of the fall. There really is no other place like it.
Thank you for the memories. Here’s to the next adventure!
Excited to reminisce tonight!
Oh Caitlin, you inspire me. I embrace you with my prayers. Can’t wait for updates!!
I love this and I love you. Choking back tears as I read because “see you later,” even though we’ll talk a lot, is so hard. I’m so proud of you and so happy to call you one of my best friends. 🙂
Caitlin! I can’t tell you how excited I am for you to come to Nica! I’ve been here for a bit over 6 months and although its hard, I love it. I was transitioning out of Georgia almost exactly the same time last year and it was crazy hard. I understand completely. Granada is one of my absolute favorite cities and I will certainly come visit from Chinandega! Praying for you!
Taylor! It would be so good to see you! Let me know when you are in town!